The Evolution of Primate Social Behavior has two principal aims. (1)
We will become familiar with the variety of primate social
organizations. Primate societies will be parsed into 5 basic systems,
after which variations on these themes will be explored. You will
learn that nonhuman primates vary from solitary, positively antisocial
species, to animals that gather in groups of up to 300.
(2) We aim to understand the theoretical underpinnings of primate
social behavior. We will investigate the evolutionary and ecological
bases of sociality, intense affiliation within groups (bonding), group
transfer, territoriality, aggression, primate intelligence,
communication, tool use, mating strategies, and parenting strategies.
Readings include scientific articles on reserve and a textbook, The
Natural History of the Primates. There are 11 pages of reading per
meeting. The class will view three short films, and two hour-long
films. There will be three exams.